Become a Corporate Partner

Information for Potential Partners and Sponsors

Who are we?

Formed as the ACT arm of the Australia wide Disabled Peoples International in 1981, People with Disabilities ACT (PWD) is now one of the Territory's longest running and most respected organisations for people with disabilities.

PWD is a consumer not for profit organisation which represents the interests of people with disabilities and is working for equal rights and equal access to the community for all Canberrans.

PWD seeks to develop policies which will assist government, business, the general public and other agencies to provide services and facilities that will make every facet of our community accessible to citizens with a disability.

It's our belief, to achieve this outcome, cooperation between the different disability organisations must occur.

Among the issues that PWD is involved in at the moment are accessible transport, retail planning, employment, taxation, recreation, personal support and accessible housing.

Like most advocacy organisations, PWD receives only a very small amount of public funding and most of our work is done voluntarily. The continued support of the community and corporate sectors is essential if PWD is to continue its valued work on behalf of people with disabilities.

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How could becoming associated with us benefit your business in the marketplace?

People with disabilities represent a real market with real buying power:

According to recent figures released by the ABS, 19% of Australians now identify as having some kind of disability. That's higher than the percentages for the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Sweden.
It is estimated that the number of people over 65, many of whom have some disability, will double over the next few decades.
The business sector is not fully aware of this market potential and many businesses are not tapping this market sector. A report by Sydney lecturer Simon D'Arcy into the tourism experiences of people with disabilities called 'Anxiety to Access' found that physical and other barriers were still a major disincentive to people with disabilities undertaking domestic travel.

Companies which position themselves for this expanding market in terms of service provision and community profile, stand to reap significant financial rewards over the next few years.

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Can we reach the market?

Yes. PWD is a long standing organisation with a lead agency position in the ACT disability community. PWD's very public work means that we are well placed to reach customers with disabilities in the ACT. We are host to a number of high profile products and events, including:

Disability Reporter, a quarterly journal with a mailing list of over 300 including government, organisations, people with disabilities, families and carers. The newsletter has been relaunched into a new two colour, professional magazine style format. The newsletters have a large hand-to-hand distribution all over the ACT and nationally and a considerable shelf life in offices and libraries around Australia.
A website at www.pwdact.org.au used as a resource by organisations, people with disabilities, families and carers.
Public forums, held on a regular basis. These forums are well attended by the disability community and receive media coverage

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PWD offers potential business partners the option of sponsorship opportunities or cause related marketing.

OPTION A—SPONSORSHIP

How sponsors benefit?

Your company/agency, its logo, background information and contact details can be promoted in a range of ways, some of which will last well beyond the period of your sponsorship. These ways include:

Disability Reporter
Your company's logo, can be featured prominently on the cover of our journal as well as contact numbers and other details.* Disability Reporter is distributed by direct mail to key State and Commonwealth agencies, national and state based disability bodies and people with disabilities, families and carers. Newsletter product advertisements are also available.
*Logos only on front cover, contact details on inside cover
Internet home page
Your company's logo and details will be included in PWD Internet homepage and we will post a link to your website. PWD homepage is linked to a range of major Government and community organisations which have their own sites. Our web site is www.pwdact.org.au. The PWD homepage is a key resource for national and state based disability bodies and people with disabilities, families and carers.
Advertising
Any set print newspaper or magazine advertising by PWD will include your company's logo.
Letterhead
Your company logo will feature on the official letterhead for use in conjunction with PWD activities. PWD sends many hundreds of letters over a year to key State and Commonwealth agencies, national and state based disability bodies and people with disabilities, families and carers.
Media Releases
PWD will announce your sponsorship by media release and will feature your logo on subsequent releases.
Consultancy
PWD will offer free referral, advice and consultancy services to sponsors seeking to tailor products and services to the disability community. We can provide access to information and contacts in the disability community and even 'test drive' your new products or service for disability access.*
* Details negotiated on a case by case basis.
Mailouts
Your flier, leaflet or product information can be included in newsletter mailouts.*
*additional postage may incur a charge.

Sponsorship packages based on the above options can be tailored to your needs for a 12 month period or longer. Sponsorship can be in cash or kind, to be negotiated on an individually tailored basis to suit each sponsor.

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OPTION B—CAUSE RELATED MARKETING

What is Cause Related Marketing?

Cause Related Marketing is a strategic positioning tool that links a company or brand to a relevant social cause, or issue, for mutual benefit.

Cause Related Marketing is an alternative to sponsorship that involves the business and the community organisation working together to raise funds and awareness for mutual benefit.

How does it work?

Price-off promotions (i.e, part of the sales of particular goods or services are earmarked for the cause. This is utilised in the promotion)
Employee giving programs (i.e, automatic salary deductions are set up by the firm)
Corporate donations (from both the corporate & their suppliers)
Appeals for public donations both through free media and advertising (Your advertising or promotions could include information about your support for people with disabilities and appeal for donations)

So—it's not a straight donation—the money is raised over time

What are the outcomes for business?

Potential for brand recognition via free media coverage in a non advertising context (valued at $ more than straight advertising)
Potential for increased sales through price off promotions

Cause related marketing works best when the business can 'own' a cause and when the marketplace is socially conscious.

Examples of businesses involved in successful cause related marketing are The Body Shop (environmental issues), Liz Clairborne (domestic violence and womens issues, UK) and St George Building Society (education and children).

PWD offers your business the opportunity to establish your cause marketing strategy in the ACT. The ACT, with its higher than average tertiary education levels, is a good venue for cause marketing.

PWD would be happy to discuss Cause Related Marketing opportunities with your business.

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Contacts:

To discuss advertising or sponsorship please contact:

Internet e-mail: pwdact@shout.org.au

Office address: PWD ACT—a peak consumer voice for people with disabilities in Canberra
PO Box 717 Mawson ACT 2607

People With Disabilities ACT Inc.
Phone 6290 1984
pwdact@shout.org.au

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